Hospital table for moving patients



Feb. 20, 1951 J. 5. M. KNOX ET AL 2,542,963

HOSPITAL TABLE FOR MOVING PATIENTS Filed Oct. 17, 1945 I 2 Sheet-Sheet l1951 J. s. M. KNOX ET AL HOSPITAL TABLE FOR MOVING PATIENTS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0013. 17, 1945 l atented Feb. 20, 195i UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Julia S. M. Knox and William Byrd Harrison, JrRichmond, Va. said Harrison assignor to said Knox Application *Gctbber1'7, 1945, Serial No. 22,764

, 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hospital apparatus, particularly to wheeledequipment, such as wheeled stretchers, for moving patients while in theprone position.

This apparatus is particularly useful in the moving of anesthetizedpatients or those who must otherwise be lifted or pulled sideways whenmoved from or to a bed.

Those persons who are familiar with the task of moving bedriddenpatients recognize that it is a constant and heavy duty. It is commonpractice to move a wheeled cot, or wheeled stretcher in the nature of a.narrow cot to the bedside of the patient. Then, while the attendantbraces the cot to prevent it from rolling away from the bed, thepatients sheet with the patient on it is dragged and partially liftedfrom the bed to the cot. Practical difficulties are constantly presentto trouble the nurse or attendant, as for example if the relative heightof the bed and cot are different or if the patient is extremely heavy,or if there is much of a gap between the edge of the mattress and thecot.

One purpose of the present invention is to bridge the space between thebed and the i wheeled cot and to thus eliminate as far as possible allchance of accident and to lighten the task of moving the patient. Thisis accomplished by the apparatus illustrated and described xherein,which provides for a narrow wheeled clot or cart with .a tiltable topmounted on .a wheeled chassis or frame and which frame is adjustablevertically. The top is preferably of strong light weight metal and isprovided with manipulating means which enables the operator, nurse orother attendant to thrust the tiltable top, after the manner of a scoop,downwardly and laterally so as to project beyond one side of the wheeledframe. By reason of this movement the edge of the top can be brought torest on the mattress of a patients bed so that the sheet on which thepatient is reclining can readily :be pulled onto the surface of the top.In the preferred embodiment of the top, that side which is adapted to beprojected outwardly is provided with an upwardly extending marginal edgeportion which is slightly curved as contrasted to the main area of thetop. Such a curved portion enables the top to make a convenientlygradual junction with the upper surface of the patients bed and rendersrelatively easy the task of the nurse or attendant in pulling thepatient and the patients sheet from the bed to the top.

After the patient is located on the :top, the

2 latter can be adjusted to its horizontal position abovethe supportingframe. Then the wheeled frame with the patient thereon is ready to bemoved to another location.

. The adjustable positioning of the tiltable top is achieved by reasonof certain mechanical linkage pivotally connected at its lower ends tothe chassis or frame of the cart and pivotally connected at its upperends to the under surface of the top. The relative size and position ofthe respective elements of the linkage contribute to the merit of thetiltable top, as will be explained.

The ,ioregoing and additional advantages and features of the inventionwill be described and claimed the following Specification and claims.considered in connection with the accompany ing drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view :in elevation, lookin at the foot .of the wheeledframe and showing the tiltable top in the horizontal position;

Fig. 2 is a ViBW similar to Fig. .1 looking at the foot end of theapparatus, but showing the top in a tilted and laterally projectedposition;

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, looking .at the rightside of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is an enlarged vertical sectional View. atthe lower end of .one:of the legs of the supporting frame and illustrating the gearingadjusting the legs vertically with respect to the caster wheels;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but looking toward the left withrespect to Fig. 4; 1

Fig. :6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of a portionof the framework, illus trating the device for locking the lever used toadjust the top; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, of the center portionof the tiltable top, showing the opening and cover therefor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, like ref erence characters identifylike parts in the several figures.

The apparatus of this invention, being designed to move a patient withthe least possible effort, is preferably formed of light weight metal.The top 1 is of smooth sheet metal rolled or rounded edges. The lengthof the top I from head to root should be comparable to the usualstretchers, cot or bed of medium length. ,The width need be only enoughto safely carry the patient. As shown Figs. 1 and 2 the width of the topI is comparable to that of 5 a relatively narrow cot. According to thepres ent invention, the side of the top I indicated at i 2 is adapted to'be thrust laterally, outwardly and downwardly to a position such asshown in Fig. 2. The opposite side or edge of the top I is indicated at3 and it is at this side of the apparatus where the attendant or nursestands while engaged in moving a patient.

The chassi or main frame of the equipment which carries the top I ispreferably formed of tubular metal having at one side upright posts 4,an upper horizontal cross bar and a second cross bar 6, both of whichlatter have their ends merging with or are continuous with a similarconnecting bar I. This assembly completes a four sided framework whichis relatively rigid. Extending downwardly from the cross bar 6 is avertical eX- tension of the frameelement 1, as indicated at 1a whichconstitutes a lower leg or post similar to the lower post portion 4. Theframework includes horizontally extending bars or tubes 8, the oppositeends (at the head end) of which are connected to a duplicate of theframe elements 4, 5, 6, "I and la. The width of the frame need be onlysufficient to provide a wheel base support for the tiltable top, whileyet narrow enough to pass through doors. The length of the frame shouldpreferably be slightly less than the space at the side of a bed betweenthe legs at the head and foot so that the frame may be brought close toif not actually under the edge of a mattress.

l The mounting of the tiltable top I to provide for its lateral anddownward movement of one side and the reverse of that movement ispeculiar and includes the following construction. At the top of the headand foot frame members 5 are positioned two upstanding short brackets 9which are securely fastened to the frame member 5, as by welding. Thereare two pairs of these brackets 9 spaced apart on each of the horizontalbars 5. Somewhat similar brackets II] are secured to the undersurface ofthe tiltable top I and project downwardly. The function of thesebrackets 9 and Ill are to provide pivotal supports for connecting linksI I and I2 which serve to support the tiltable top I in its severalpositions, as will now be explained. With reference to Fig. 1, lookingat the foot end-of the apparatus, it will be observedthat the bracket. I0 is substantially immediately above the bracket 9. .A link II ispivotally connected to 9 and Ill. Atthe opposite side ofithe apparatusthebracket 9 is positioned inwardly from the side of the chassis frameso that the. bracket iii which depends from the .undersurface of thetiltable top I is not positioned immediately above the bracket 9, but isnearer the sideof the frame having the frame members 4. A link I2. ispivotally connected to the brackets 9 and I0 and as shown in Fig. 1 thelink I2 extends diagonally upwardly from the bracket 9 to the, bracketIii when the tiltable top I is in its horizontal position. Therespective length of the II and i2 contribute, to the movement of thegtiltable. top, I, as will be explained. .It will be obvious that thelinks I I and I2 are duplicated at opposite ends of the apparatus.

Meansfor operating the linkage II and I2 to move the tiltable top I isprovided by means of a framework in the nature of a lever includingspaced arms i3 rigidly connected to the links I2, each ofwhich armextends laterally and out wardly from the lower end of the links I2, asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The extreme outer ends of the parts I3 areconnected by a horizontally extending bar I 4. The bar I5 extendsbetween the opposite ends of the members I3 at a point substantially inalignment with the pivotal point .Qfthe link I2. By having the membersI3, I4 and I 5 in a form of a rectangular frame, a strong com structionis provided. To actuate the link I2 the attendant raise or lowers thebar I i, thus elevating or lowering the outer ends of the parts I3 withcorresponding rocking movement of the links I2 about their lower pivotalpoints. When the links I2 are moved from the diagonal position shown inFig. l to the substantially upright position shown in Fig. 2, thetiltable top I is thrust outwardly at the left and downwardly, thelimitations of movement being subject to the relative length of the linkII a compared to the length of the link I2.

Lock mechanism for holding the lever arms I3 in the lowered positionwith the tiltable top I horizontal is indicated at I3a (Figs. 1, 2, 3and 6) [3a includes a spring held rod or bolt having one end adapted toenter a hole in the arm I3. This device can be duplicated at oppositeends of the framework.

The chassis frame is preferably mounted on suitable caster wheels I6.

The framework may be adjusted Vertically with respect to the casterwheels I6 by means of mechanism described in the following. At theheadand foot of the chassis are knurled .wheels 2| which are mounted oncross rods 22, extending between the lower ends of the post portions 4and la. The Wheel 2I and the rod 22 serve as operating means for turninggears which serve to elevate or lower the frames with respect to thecasters, in accordance with the following details. At the lowerend ofeach of the posts Ia are suitable housings in which the rods 22 arejournaled. Within those housings the rod 22 carrie a worm gear. 23 whichis in mesh with a gear 24, which in turn carries a sleeve 25 havingscrew threaded engagement with a threaded post 26. The post 26constitutes an extension of the shank or main support of the casterwheel. The post 28 i journaled at its upper end within the interior ofthe posts 4 and la andis otherwise adapted to turn freely with respectto the posts land. Ia.

By. turning the wheels 2I at either the head or foot ends of the chassisthe frame at that respectiveend may be elevated or lowered to suit.Optionally also the table top I may be brought to the horizontal.position at anyheight.

A drainage paniil is provided and is accessible from the upper .surfaceof. the tiltable. top I through an opening in the top having adownwardly extending flange Ia. A cover. plate Ibis normally seated toclose the opening. lb extends in substantially the same plane with theupper adoining surface of the tiltable top I. The pan 39 has a laterallyextending flange adaptedto rest onand be carried by two rods Ic whichare sup-. ported at opposite sides of the opening by brackets or arms.Id. The rods Ic extend lengthwise of the tiltable top and the spacebetween them is open so that the pan 39 maybe slide endwise of thetiltable top and removed either at the head or the footend of theapparatus. The pan 39 is a useful feature for abdominal operations,irrigaa tions, or as a bed pan.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for facilitating the movement of patients, which apparatuscomprises a wheeled frame, a table top having a main central areaextending generally in a common plane and mount ed on said frame, andadapted to be tilted in its entirety sidewise and projected laterallywhen tilted, linkage means extending between said table top and saidframe and constituting the connection between the mounting for saidtable top on :aseaees' 1 9. Apparatus for facilitating the movement ofpatients, which apparatus comprises a wheeled frame, a table top havinga main central area extending generally in a common plane and mounted onsaid frame and adapted to be tilted in its entirety sidewise andprojected laterally when tilted, a plurality of links pivotallyconnected to and extending normally upwardly from said frame to saidtable to which they are pivotally connected, said links constituting thesup- 10 porting means for and means for movingthe lat ter, a pluralityof said links being positioned at opposite sides of said table top, andmeans extending lengthwise of said frame and accessible at one side ofthe frame and connected to said linkage means for applying leverage tosaid links to move their upper ends and the table top laterally, saidlinks at the advance side of the table top being shorter than those atthe opposite side and adapted to be in the upright position when thoseon the opposite side are inclined outwardly from a 8 their lower towardtheir upper ends, whereby the advance edge of the tilted and projectedtop may be extended beyond said wheeled frame.

JULIA S. M. KNOX. WILLIAM BYRD HARRISON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name i Date 312,763 Rhoads Feb. 24, 18851,299,894 Anderson Apr. 8, 1919 15 1,829,288 May Oct. 27, 1931 2,234,483Sutton Mar. 11, 1941 2,404,734 Lenahan July 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 657,803 I Germany Mar. 14, 1938

